Sony unveiled a whopping 26 new high-def LCDs this week - including a few 3DTV models - so how do you choose between them?
Sony has always been a premium brand - both in terms of price and quality. Sony hasn't revealed the full pricing on its latest range of LCD TVs, but expect to pay top dollar for the monster panels considering today you'd pay north of $8,000 for 55-inch flagship XBR series Bravia. You can be sure the new flagship 60-inch, 3D-enabled LX900 will put a serious dent in your credit card.
The 2010 Bravia range
The first thing to note about the new Bravia range is every model offers "Full HD" 1080p resolution - thankfully Sony has done away with the "HD" 720p panels. Each model also runs the Xross Media Bar interface (borrowed from the PlayStation 3) along with USB, MPEG-4 tuners, Bravia Sync and four HDMI ports. All but the entry level models also feature networking and DLNA along with IPTV for streaming TV shows from the internet.
The four Bravia categories
The 26 new Bravias can be divided into four main categories, each with its own tag line;
- LX "Pure Entertainment" 900 (52 to 60-inch)
- NX "Superior Style" 800 & 700 (40 to 60-inch)
- HX "Picture Perfect" 900, 800 & 700 (40 to 55-inch)
- EX "All Round Performance" 700, 600, 500 & 400 (32 to 60-inch)
The key differences between them are 3D-compatibility, backlighting technology, refresh rate and contrast ratio. Unfortunately Sony continues to spread its new technologies across different models, so there isn't one Bravia with the lot.
Choosing an entry-level Bravia - EX500/600 vs EX700
It would obviously be tedious to go through all 26 new Bravias, but there are a few things you can keep in mind when choosing between them. Firstly, stay away from the EX400 and EX600 models because they only offer a 50Hz refresh rate. It's certainly worth spending the extra money on a 100Hz model, especially if you're a sports fan.
The EX400 and EX500 also use CCFL backlighting instead of LED. LED backlights offer a faster response time and can dim further than CCFL, allowing for the creation of blacker blacks. The fact that there is CCFL-backlit HX series seems like a joke - unless the price is significantly lower then the other HX models.
If you're interested in streaming video, either from your PC or from the internet, keep in mind that the EX500 and EX600 models lack networking. Even if you've got a streaming media box like the WDTV Live, you still might want a networked Bravia for watching Sony's impressive IPTV service which offers access to Seven and SBS's Catch Up TV services. Sony is also in discussions with the ABC over iView access. Later this year IPTV access will also come to Sony Blu-ray players and the PlayStation 3, although it may not be the exact same offering.
The way Sony distributes features between models makes it hard to choose an entry-level Bravia. If you're after a budget model, you'd be better off starting with the EX700 models, which range from 32 to 60 inches.
Aiming for picture quality - the HX900
If picture quality is your highest priority, your best bet is the HX900 - available in 46 or 52 inches. It's also one of the new 3D models. What sets the HX900 apart from all the other new Bravias is Intelligent Dynamic LED - using LED lights behind the display rather than along the edges. This allows the television to vary the backlight brightness in different areas of the screen - allowing for much blacker blacks (and thus greater contrast).
The other new LED Bravias use Edge LED or Dynamic Edge LED, which doesn't offer as much control over the backlighting. Unfortunately the HX900 only uses white LEDs - not Red, Green and Blue LEDS such as in the XBR series Bravias.
The HX900 is the only Bravia to offer Motionflow PRO 400 - which is still 200Hz but flashes up black segments within each frame to prevent the eye from retaining an after-image - offering smooth, natural motion. Motionflow PRO 200 (found on the LX900 and the HX800) is also 200Hz but inserts entire black frames - which achieves a similar effect to Motionflow PRO 400 but supposedly isn't as effective as. The PRO technology also improves 3D picture quality.
The HX900 (along with the LX900) also offers an "OptiContrast" display which minimises glare - helping produce blacker blacks even in brightly lit rooms.
Apart from the fact it only goes up to 52 inches, the HX900 has few shortcomings compared to the higher models;
- Wifi is an optional extra (it's built into the LX and NX series)
- 3D transmitter and glasses are an optional extra (they're supplied with the LX series)
- it lacks Internet Widgets (they're only available on the NX and LX series)
- it won't slot into the optional display stand
NX series vs HX series
I wouldn't consider any of these deal-breakers. It remains to be seen if the NX series is more expensive than HX900, although the NX series does lack 3D-compatibility.
If you opt for the NX series over the HX900 you're really opting for style over substance - such as the display stand which makes the screen look like a Stonehenge monolith balancing on your TV stand.
The flagship - LX900
If you want to combine style, substance and size you'll obviously be drawn to the flagship LX900 - which could quite possibly have a five-figure price tag whern pricing is announced. Even then you're still making sacrifices on image quality compared to the HX900.
Expect to pay a hefty early adopter tax if you've got your eye on a first-generation 3D-capable Bravia - which will hit the shelves in July.
Unless you're after bragging rights and have money to burn, you might consider waiting until next year for a second-generation 3D-capable Bravia - which will be cheaper and probably offer better image quality.
If you're desperate to buy a 3D television straight away, the 46 or 52 inch HX900 will offer the best picture and probably hit the sweet spot between price, sizes and features.
| Model |
Bravia LX900 |
Bravia NX800 |
Bravia NX700 |
| |
 |
 |
 |
| Price |
TBA |
TBA |
|
| Size (inches) |
52, 60 |
52, 60
|
40, 46 |
| Blacklight |
Edge LED |
Edge LED |
Edge LED |
| Motionflow |
PRO 200 |
200 |
100 |
| 3D |
Yes |
|
|
| Networking |
Ethernet & Wifi |
Ethernet & Wifi |
Ethernet & Wifi |
| Content |
DLNA, IPTV & Widgets |
DLNA, IPTV & Widgets |
DLNA, IPTV & Widgets |
| Model |
HX900 |
HX800 |
HX700 |
| |
 |
 |
 |
| Price |
TBA |
TBA |
$2,499 (40in)
$2,999 (46in)
$3,899 (55in) |
| Size (inches) |
46, 52 |
40, 46, 55 |
40, 46, 55 |
| Blacklight |
Intelligence Dynamic LED |
Dynamic Edge LED |
CCFL |
| Motionflow |
PRO 400 |
PRO 200 |
200 |
| 3D |
Optional |
Optional |
|
| Networking |
Ethernet & optional Wifi |
Ethernet & optional Wifi |
Ethernet & optional Wifi |
| Content |
DLNA & IPTV |
DLNA & IPTV |
DLNA & IPTV |
| Model |
EX700 |
EX600 |
EX500 |
EX400 |
| |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Price |
$1,499 (32in)
$2,199 (40in)
$2,899 (46in)
$3,699 (52in)
$5,699 (60in) |
$1,299 (32in)
$1,799 (40in) |
$1,099(32in)
$1,399(40in)
$2,199(46in)
$2,699(55in) |
$899 (32in) |
| Size (inches) |
32, 40, 46, 52, 60 |
32, 40 |
32, 40, 46, 55 |
32 |
| Blacklight |
Edge LED |
Edge LED |
CCFL |
CCFL |
| Motionflow |
100 |
50 |
100 |
50 |
| 3D |
|
|
|
|
| Networking |
|
|
|
|
| Content |
Ethernet & optional Wifi |
Ethernet & optional Wifi |
|
|
| Model |
DLNA & IPTV |
DLNA & IPTV |
|
|
